NHSA Adds Acorn Learning To Strengthen and Improve Data Utilization in Head Start
January 8, 2026
Arlington, Va. — The National Head Start Association (NHSA) is excited to announce that it has acquired the curriculum and intellectual property of Acorn Learning, bringing this valuable work in-house as part of NHSA’s commitment to high-quality, mission-driven professional learning and continuous quality improvement for the Head Start community.
Co-founded by Stuart Jones and Dr. Greg Dixon, Acorn Learning was created to support Head Start leaders with practical, real-world approaches to data, leadership, and decision-making. This transition to NHSA ensures that Acorn’s work is preserved and thoughtfully stewarded within NHSA, guided by the needs and experiences of the field it was created to serve.
“By integrating Acorn’s curriculum and expertise into our association, NHSA is taking responsibility for sustaining and building on a proven resource,” says Yasmina Vinci, NHSA’s executive director. “This addition allows NHSA to sustain and scale these resources in a way that remains grounded in the realities of Head Start leadership while simultaneously keeping costs low for Head Start programs.”
To ensure continuity, Dr. Greg Dixon will join NHSA as chief research officer, providing leadership across learning design, research, and evaluation. Dr. Dixon co-founded Acorn Learning in 2012 and has been a central academic and strategic partner in its work for more than a decade.
“Building Acorn Learning has been one of the most meaningful chapters of my professional life, including working alongside NHSA to serve the Head Start community,” says Stuart Jones, co-founder of Acorn Learning. “After more than five years of formal collaboration, bringing this work fully into NHSA feels like a natural and fitting next step for its continued impact.”
As part of this transition, Acorn Learning will cease independent operations, with its work continuing through NHSA in service of Head Start programs nationwide. Programs currently engaging with Acorn’s work can expect continuity and clear communication as NHSA integrates these resources into its professional learning efforts.
About National Head Start Association (NHSA)
The National Head Start Association (NHSA) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to realizing the promise of Head Start; that all children have a chance to succeed in school and in life. NHSA is the voice for nearly 750,000 children served by more than 250,000 staff every single day in rural, urban, and suburban communities in all 50 states. In 2025, we celebrate 60 years of service to 40 million children, their families, and communities across the country.
About Acorn Learning
Founded in 2012 as Acorn Evaluation, Inc., Acorn Learning developed a national reputation for providing practical, field-tested professional learning, training, and technical assistance to Head Start programs nationwide. The organization focused on strengthening leadership capacity, data-informed practice, and organizational decision-making through accessible, real-world tools grounded in the realities of program operations. In 2025, the organization formally transitioned to Acorn Learning, reflecting the central role of professional development as the primary vehicle for its work and impact.